After moving her hands slightly and swaying the two tails behind her, Yukino Yukinoshita turned her attention toward Ranni, who was sitting on the single sofa nearby.
With her azure-blue hair, delicate features, and the faint yet unmistakable aura of authority she naturally radiated—stronger even than the imposing presence of Yukino Yukinoshita's own mother—Ranni was impossible to regard as an ordinary girl.
When Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze shifted to the black-and-white kitten in Ranni's arms, she also noticed the ornate ring on Ranni's finger. It looked almost identical to the one worn by Luo Yu.
At that moment, she more or less confirmed the relationship between the two.
Meeting Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze, Ranni smiled gently.
"Hello. I'm Ranni."
Yukino Yukinoshita nodded politely and pressed her lips together before speaking.
"Hello… and thank you very much for what you did today."
Luo Yu chuckled and added,
"It was actually Ranni who noticed you running around outside. That's why we came after you."
Ranni glanced at the kitten that seemed eager to approach Yukino Yukinoshita. She made no attempt to stop it and simply released her hold.
"The aura was far too obvious," she said calmly. "It wasn't even trying to hide itself. And the distance was close. It would have been difficult not to notice."
The moment she finished speaking, the kitten leapt from her arms and landed directly on Yukino Yukinoshita's lap.
"This…"
Seeing the kitten snuggle up to her so affectionately, the girl felt both happy and confused.
Luo Yu smiled and explained,
"A Nekomata may be classified as a yokai, but it is still fundamentally a cat—and an extremely powerful one at that. Ordinary cats can sense your aura. Naturally, they will admire you and feel drawn to you."
"It's perfectly normal for them to want to get close."
He paused before adding with a teasing tone,
"If you feel like it, you could walk around the neighborhood tonight. You might even gather all the stray cats here under your command and become a true cat boss—ruling over the entire area."
"…?"
Yukino Yukinoshita's hand froze while she was petting the kitten.
She looked at Luo Yu stiffly.
"You're telling me… to become the leader of cats?"
Luo Yu shrugged.
"You're a Nekomata now. Commanding cats should be effortless for you."
"Don't believe me? Try communicating with that little one."
"Hm?"
Blinking in surprise, Yukino Yukinoshita looked down excitedly at the kitten on her lap.
The kitten looked back at her and let out a soft cry.
"Meow~"
Although it sounded like an ordinary cat's meow, Yukino Yukinoshita clearly understood what it meant.
"I'm hungry~"
Her eyes widened.
"You're hungry?"
"Meow!"
I can really understand it!
At that moment, Yukino Yukinoshita was completely thrilled.
She was an extreme cat lover, after all. Now that she possessed the ability to communicate with cats, how could she not be excited?
Even the fact that she had become a Nekomata was temporarily pushed aside in her mind.
After hearing that the kitten was hungry, Luo Yu stood up with a smile. He opened the refrigerator, took out a frozen chicken drumstick, removed the bone, quickly thawed it, then placed it into a pot of water to cook.
As the chicken began boiling, Luo Yu checked the time before looking toward Ranni and Yukino Yukinoshita.
"Are you two hungry? I can make some late-night food."
Yukino Yukinoshita was about to decline.
But the next moment—
Her stomach growled loudly.
Her face instantly turned red in embarrassment.
Earlier, while possessed by the cat spirits, she had performed a series of intense actions. Even though the cats' spiritual power had supported her, her own stamina had still been heavily consumed.
"Th-Then I'll trouble you, Luo Yu. I'll pay for the meal."
Luo Yu waved his hand dismissively.
"It's just a meal. Since time is limited, I'll just cook some noodles."
As he spoke, he took out noodles and various ingredients from the refrigerator and began preparing them efficiently.
While Luo Yu worked in the kitchen, only Ranni and Yukino Yukinoshita remained on the sofa.
Now that she had returned to human form, Yukino Yukinoshita continued petting the kitten while attempting to talk with Ranni.
"Miss Ranni… are you and Luo Yu in a romantic relationship?"
Ranni thought for a moment before replying calmly.
"He is my King. In your terms, that would make him my partner. Calling it a romantic relationship would not be incorrect."
As she said this, Ranni glanced toward Luo Yu, who was cutting vegetables in the kitchen.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Seeing that expression left Yukino Yukinoshita momentarily stunned.
When Ranni turned back and noticed the look on her face, she smiled slightly.
"Since the King enrolled at Sobu High School, you are the second person we have encountered who has obtained an opportunity to step into the supernatural."
"The second?"
Yukino Yukinoshita blinked.
"So before me… there was someone else?"
Ranni nodded.
"Miko Yotsuya from Class C. She possesses Spiritual Sight that she could not control and was constantly troubled by evil spirits. A few days ago, the King and I helped her learn to control magic power, allowing her to properly manage her Spiritual Sight."
"Spiritual Sight… magic power…"
Seeing the interest spark in Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes, Ranni carefully studied her expression before speaking again.
"You want to learn, don't you?"
"You have good talent. However, if you wish to learn, you must join our Carian Magic Academy. I will not teach someone unrelated to me."
She continued calmly,
"Besides magic, the King can also teach you how to make better use of your own abilities. When it comes to combat—especially close combat—he surpasses me."
"Now that you possess the power of a Nekomata, returning to an ordinary life like before is no longer possible. It would be wise for you to prepare yourself."
"Join you? The Carian Magic Academy?"
Facing Yukino Yukinoshita's confusion, Ranni took out the Carian Regal Scepter.
Under Yukino Yukinoshita's astonished gaze, she cast a simple spell.
A brilliant orb of light detached from the tip of the scepter and floated into the air, illuminating the room.
"A basic glintstone spell—Starlight," Ranni explained.
"It has no offensive capability. It is mainly used for illumination in dark environments. It follows the caster and continuously lights the surroundings."
"As for other spells, the space here is not suitable for demonstration."
When the glowing orb faded away, Yukino Yukinoshita looked back at her.
"So… you want me to join your side?"
Ranni maintained her gentle smile and nodded.
"A reasonable assumption, isn't it?"
"You and the King are classmates, which makes inviting you even more appropriate."
"Of course, you do not need to answer immediately. After returning home, you can spend some time adapting to your abilities and learning about this new world before making your decision."
Yukino Yukinoshita nodded slowly.
Tonight's events had shaken her worldview far too much.
She truly needed time to understand everything.
Just then, the sizzling sound of cooking came from the kitchen, accompanied by the tempting aroma of fried food drifting into the room.